"Haven"t you run before?" Cringeworthy moment US television presenter mistakes Olympic gold medal winner Mo Farah for an amateur

'Haven't you run before' Cringeworthy moment US television presenter mistakes Olympic gold medal winner Mo Farah for an amateurFarah, 29, had won a half marathon in New Orleans in record timeHe appeared a little stunned by the foolish question, asking 'sorry'But the anchor was unaware of the gaffe and repeated the questionShe later asked him 'how do you prepare for a marathon like this'The champion British runner replied: 'I haven't done a marathon yet'

Olympic Games” class=”blkBorder” />

Has he run before Mo Farah reacts as he wins the men's 5,000m final at the London 2012 Olympic Games

Farah, who won gold in the 5,000
metres and 10,000 metres at the Olympics, had completed the Rock 'N'
Roll Half Marathon in 61 minutes – a course record.

He
was being interviewed in City Park in New Orleans, while Norton asked
her poorly-researched questions from the television studio.

FROM SOMALI REFUGEE TO OLYMPIC CHAMPION: THE REMARKABLE MO FARAH STORY

Mo Farah arrived in London aged eight from Somalia, where he was born, and barely spoke a word of English. He was had grown up in the African country as it descended into devastating civil war but was bale to flee to the UK.

He went to Feltham Community College, London, where his talent was spotted and nurtured by PE teacher Alan Watkinson. His first major title came at the European Athletics Junior Championship in 2001 in the 5,000m.

Farah won the European Championship gold in the 5,000m and 10,000m in 2010 in Barcelona, and a week later became the first British man to run under 13 minutes in the 5,000m.

He soon became the first British man to win gold in the 5,000m at the World Championships in Daegu in 2011, when he smashed the European record.

Farah secured his place in history last summer in London last summer, becoming the first British man to win Olympic gold in the 10,000m, and one of only five people to also win gold in the 5,000m.

Britain's most successful distance runner of all time was awarded a CBE in the New Year's Honours list and has expressed his desire to move into marathon running.

Somali-born
Farah, 29, was featured by media across the country for winning the
13.1-mile event, which attracted around 15,000 competitors, on Sunday.

He beat Ethiopian runner Gebre Gebremariam, a world junior champion, to the finish line. He out sprinted his rival in a dramatic final 200 metres.

Farah, who has become an iconic figure in British sport, arrived in London from Mogadishu, Somalia, at the age of eight and spoke very little English.

The runner continues to live in London with his wife Tania, step-daughter Rhianna and their twins Aisha and Amani, but also spends much of his time in Portland, Oregon.

His talent was spotted and nurtured by PE teacher Alan Watkinson at Feltham Community College, west London.

Farah's remarkable achievements include him becoming the first British man to run the 5,000m under 13 minutes, and the first to win gold in the 5,000m at the World Championship.

He went onto secure his place in
history with his Olympic double – making him the only British man to win
the 10,000m at the Games and one of only five people to secure gold in
both.

He has said he plans to compete in a half marathon in London in April before attempting the full 26.2-mile race next year.

But decorated British marathon runner Paula Radcliffe has said it is strange that Farah is starting his long distance career by running only half races.

She also questioned whether he will be too skinny to excel on the road, despite Farah's insistence that the his approach will provide the 'perfect practice' for next year – as he will be familiar with the route and routine of the event.

Radcliffe, who set a course record when
making her London Marathon debut in 2002, said she would not have
employed the same tactics.

Family man: Mo Farah celebrates winning the 5,000m Olympic final with wife Tania and stepdaughter Rhianna

She has drawn comparisons with South African runner Elana Meyer, who exceed at half-marathons but could not repeat the success over the full distance.

Radcliffe said: 'I just don’t understand it. I do find it a little bit strange. Just go in and do a marathon. Race it hard.

'‘I would say Mo is well capable of running a two-hour four-minute marathon, but you have to just see him do the first run and see.'

The 39-year-old added: 'Mo is very skinny but he’s got lots of strength there. But you don’t know.’